A technique for using machine logic to configure power supply units in a data center including: (i) receiving cost information for multiple power grids that includes expected cost information for a time period; (ii) receiving usage information for multiple data center loads in a data center that includes expected electrical power usage for the data center loads; (iii) determining a target power information set, based, at least in part, on the cost information and the usage information, with the target power information set, for the time period, including a target power amount respectively corresponding to each power grid; and (iv) determining a power supply unit configuration scheme so that, when operating under the power supply unit configuration scheme, each power grid will supply, at least approximately, its respectively corresponding target power amount.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving a plurality of cost information datasets, with each cost information data set respectively corresponding to a power grid of a plurality of power grids and including expected cost information for electrical power drawn from the corresponding power grid during a time period, with each power grid of the plurality of power grids respectively having: (i) a different origin of the electrical power distributed over the grid, and (ii) different distribution infrastructure; receiving a plurality of usage information data sets, with each usage information data set respectively corresponding to a data center load of a plurality of data center loads in a data center and including expected usage information for electrical power expected to be drawn by a corresponding data center load during the time period; determining a target power information set, based, at least in part, on the plurality of cost information data sets and the plurality of usage information data sets, with the target power information set, for the time period, including: (i) a first target power amount respectively corresponding to each power grid, and (ii) a second target power amount respectively corresponding to each power grid, with the second target power amount being a lowest expected usage target power amount; and determining a power supply unit configuration scheme according to the determined target power information set so that, when operating under the power supply unit configuration scheme, each power grid of the plurality of power grids will either: (i) supply, at least approximately, the first target power amount, (ii) receive power from a unique electrical energy source, and/or (iii) supply, at least approximately, the second target power amount.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising: applying the power supply unit configuration scheme to a plurality of power supply units, with the plurality of power supply units being structured, connected and/or programmed to control the flow of electrical power from the plurality of power grids to the plurality of data center loads.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 further comprising: for a plurality of successive time periods, repeating the following operations: the receiving of a plurality of cost information data sets operation, the receiving of a plurality of usage information data sets operation, the determining of a target power information set operation, the determining of a power supply unit configuration scheme operation, and the applying of the power supply unit configuration scheme operation.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 wherein the plurality of power grids includes at least three power grids.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the plurality of power supply units are connected to the plurality of power grids and the plurality of data center loads such that each data center load is supplied by a plurality of dedicated power supply units where each power supply unit of the plurality of dedicated power supply units supplies power from a different power grid.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein at least a first cost information data set of the plurality of cost information data sets includes expected cost information for a corresponding first power grid that varies on a per power unit basis with respect to the amount of power drawn from the first power grid.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the determination of the target power information data set is further based, at least in part, upon current and/or past observed power usage for the plurality of data center loads.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein: a first power grid of the plurality of power grids is oil powered; and a second power grid of the plurality of power grids is hydroelectric.
9. A computer program product comprising; a machine readable storage device; and computer code stored on the machine readable storage device, with the computer code including instructions and data for causing a processor(s) set to perform operations including the following: receiving a plurality of cost information data sets, with each cost information data set respectively corresponding to a power grid of a plurality of power grids and including expected cost information for electrical power drawn from the corresponding power grid during a time period, with each power grid of the plurality of power grids respectively having: (i) a different origin of the electrical power distributed over the grid, and (ii) different distribution infrastructure, receiving a plurality of usage information data sets, with each usage information data set respectively corresponding to a data center load of a plurality of data center loads in a data center and including expected usage information for electrical power expected to be drawn by a corresponding data center load during the time period, determining a target power information set, based, at least in part, on the plurality of cost information data sets and the plurality of usage information data sets, with the target power information set, for the time period, including: (i) a first target power amount respectively corresponding to each power grid, and (ii) a second target power amount respectively corresponding to each power grid, with the second target power amount being a lowest expected usage target power amount, and determining a power supply unit configuration scheme according to the determined target power information set so that, when operating under the power supply unit configuration scheme, each power grid of the plurality of power grids will either: (i) supply, at least approximately, the first target power amount, (ii) receive power from a unique electrical energy source, and/or (iii) supply, at least approximately, the second target power amount.
10. The computer program product of claim 9 further comprising: applying the power supply unit configuration scheme to a plurality of power supply units, with the plurality of power supply units being structured, connected and/or programmed to control the flow of electrical power from the plurality of power grids to the plurality of data center loads.
11. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising: for a plurality of successive time periods, repeating the following operations: the receiving of a plurality of cost information data sets operation, the receiving of a plurality of usage information data sets operation, the determining of a target power information set operation, the determining of a power supply unit configuration scheme operation, and the applying of the power supply unit configuration scheme operation.
12. The computer program product of claim 10 wherein the plurality of power grids includes at least three power grids.
13. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the plurality of power supply units are connected to the plurality of power grids and the plurality of data center loads such that each data center load is supplied by a plurality of dedicated power supply units where each power supply unit of the plurality of dedicated power supply units supplies power from a different power grid.
14. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein at least a first cost information data set of the plurality of cost information data sets includes expected cost information for a corresponding first power grid that varies on a per power unit basis with respect to the amount of power drawn from the first power grid.
15. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the determination of the target power information data set is further based, at least in part, upon current and/or past observed power usage for the plurality of data center loads.
16. The computer program product of claim 9 further comprising: a set of processor(s) structured and/or connected to perform the program instructions stored on the computer readable storage medium; and wherein the computer program product is in the form of a computer system.
17. The computer system of claim 16 wherein: a first power grid of the plurality of power grids is oil powered; and a second power grid of the plurality of power grids is hydroelectric.
18. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein: a first power grid of the plurality of power grids is oil powered; and a second power grid of the plurality of power grids is hydroelectric.
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June 6, 2017
May 12, 2020
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